Dynamo left back Corey Ashe, right, is a two-time MLS All-Star who likely will receive an invitation to join the U.S. national team camp in January to prepare for the World Cup.

Dynamo left back Corey Ashe, right, is a two-time MLS All-Star who...

The experiment was expected to last only one match.

Tired of watching Dane Richards torment the Dynamo down the right wing against his club, coach Dominic Kinnear approached the speedy Corey Ashe about moving to defense for an early-season match against the New York Red Bulls in 2011.

In his first four seasons with the Dynamo, Ashe had been stuck behind Brad Davis, Brian Mullan and Stuart Holden on the wing, and most of his playing time came off the bench.

Ashe jumped at the opportunity to start at left back against Richards and the Red Bulls. He excelled and has been one of the best left backs in Major League Soccer since.

"I thought Corey had a real good game, looked very comfortable," Kinnear said. "I just had a little side conversation and said this may be something that we may keep trying if you're open to it. He just wanted to get on the field any way possible.

"I think if you look at it now, he's definitely made the position his own. His call into the national team shows you he's taken to the position. He's gotten better with it, and I think he's gotten more notice outside of Houston."

More Information

All-Star Game

What: MLS All-Stars vs. AS Roma.

When/where: 8 p.m. today; Kansas City, Kan.

TV: ESPN2.

Ashe (5-7, 154 pounds) thrived at left back immediately and earned his first MLS All-Star bid in 2011. He earned his second All-Star nod this season.

He and Davis are likely to play for the MLS All-Stars at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan., on Wednesday night against Italy's AS Roma.

More importantly for a player who aspires to compete in a World Cup, Ashe, 27, is considered among the best left backs in U.S. Soccer. He was part of the national team roster for the recent Gold Cup.

He didn't play a minute, in part because starting left back DaMarcus Beasley was captain of the squad that won the Gold Cup title Sunday. Ashe was substituted off the roster before the semifinals of the regional tournament, but coach Jurgen Klinsmann invited him back to attend the final and join the celebration.

Taste of Gold Cup

"It was a good experience," Ashe said of the Gold Cup invitation. "It was a little unfortunate that I wasn't able to break in, but I kind of knew that was the case with Beasley being the captain and the starting left back and then Edgar (Castillo) backing him up.

"They told me that they would be contacting me soon. They were happy with what they saw. They just wanted me to get my feet wet and see how they play to get used to (Klinsmann's) system and just kind of see what the full team is about. I know I will be back there soon. How soon is just the question."

Ashe appreciated that Klinsmann told him he'll likely be called back up for the January camp.

Ashe has made a career of taking advantage and shining when given minutes on the pitch. It would be wrong to say he patiently waited for his time to come with the Dynamo, but he capitalized when Kinnear offered him a chance to start at left back.

"It's definitely an honor to be recognized a second time as an All-Star," Ashe said. "It's just something I'm looking forward to, especially coming from the national team camp to the All-Stars. It's great.

Goals accomplished

"I had two goals this year, and both of them I've reached. One was obviously to play in the Gold Cup. I didn't actually play, but I got invited. The second one was to be an All-Star. I hit that as well. I'm very happy and very honored."

Left back wasn't the position at which he could have expected to star when he began his career, but it's the role that has helped him establish himself as an MLS All-Star and perhaps eventually a regular on the U.S. national team.

If anything, he returned from the Gold Cup with more desire.

"It definitely makes you hungrier," he said. "Especially coming from the national team, it makes you hungrier. You want to work harder so you get the chance. I'm coming back motivated."